Road-skate



(No Model.)

E. S. DORR. RQAD SKATE.

0l M 9 o0 M 1|. nw 1 nu .6; n u Tu M; lu.. d .dL G. Ll... n 6 t ow D...

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR S. DORR, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROAD-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 430,006, dated J' une 10, 1890.

Application nea Apn'i 19, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR S. DORE, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Road-Skates, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a road-skate whereby the user may travel along the road on wheels with safety, yet speedily.

In accordance with this invention each skate comprises a wheel mounted on suitable bearings in a frame, which is designed to be attached to the leg and foot of the user. A foot-plate or equivalent is also arranged on the frame, which is provided with suitable straps or other means by which the device may be secured to the foot of the wearer. A suitable brake is provided for checking the forward rotation of the wheel if the user should tip backward or desire to stop suddenly, thereby preventing the wheel from moving out from beneath him and tending to throw him on his back. A brake is also provided for preventing the backward rotation of the wheel, which prevents it from moving out from beneath him, tending to throw him on his face, such latter form of brake materially assisting him in climbing hills.

Figure l shows in side elevation a roadskate comprehending my invention; Fig. 0, a rear side view of the road-skate shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, an enlarged detailof the brake which prevents backward rotation of the wheel; and Fig. 4a top view of the leg-strap, showing its sliding connection with the frame.

The wheel a, of any suitable size-say ifteen inches in diameter-may, if desired, have a rubber tire. This wheel ais 'arranged in suitable bearings in a yoke h, which is secured to a vertical rod or bar b', provided at or near its upper end with a strap b2 or other suitable clamp, by which it may be secured to the leg of the user. This yoke b and rod or bar b constitute the frame for supporting the operating parts. A foot-plate c is pivoted at its forward end at lc to a plate c2, having guide-pins c3, (herein shown as two in number,) which pins pass down through a Serial No. 348,674. (No model.)

rocking frame d, pivotally arranged on a bracket or arm d. A spiral spring c4 encircles each guide-pin c3, the lower ends of `which springs are attached to or rest upon the rocking frame d, and the upper ends of which are attached to the said pins c3. These guide-pins c3, moving vertically in the rocking frame against tension of the springs c4, constitute a vertical yielding support for the foot of the user, to take up the jar caused by traveling over rough roads.

The foot-plate c will be provided with suitable straps or clamps c5, by which it may be secured to the foot of the user.

A brake is provided for checking forward rotation of the wheel ot when tipping backward or when the operator throws his weight on his heels, this brake being herein shown as a brake-lever e, pivoted at e to one of the arms of the yoke b, and having a crank-arm c2, which is loosely connected to a rod e3, rigidly attached to the rockingframe d. When the weight of the operator is thrown on the heel end of the foot-plate c, the latter strikes the rear end of the plate c2, or it may be a projection ci thereon, and rocks the frame d on its pivot, and by meansof the arm e2 the brake-lever c will engage the wheel a, and thereby check its forward rotation. A crossbar f is attached to the rocker-frame d, adjacent to or in close proximity to the yoke b, at the front side thereof, so as to strike against the said yoke when tipping forward, such bar thereby serving as a limiting-stop. A brake is also provided for preventing backward rotation of the wheel a, which consists, as herein shown, of a disk c', pivoted eccentrically at i to one arm of the yoke b, and resting by the pressure of the slight spring t2 upon the periphery of a disk i4, secured to the hub or axle of the wheel, or it may bear directly on said hub or axle. when the wheel c is turned backward, or in direction of the arrow 50, the said frictiondisk d will engage and hold the wheel irmly.

I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular construction of brakes to be ernployed, as many forms are well known.

By means of this device the user can move over a rough road speedily, and liability of accidents from tipping backward or forward It will be seen thaty IOO is prevented. The leg-strap b2 is attached to a square sleeve bl?, arranged to slide vertically on the bar l1', which is shaped to receive said sleeve. This sliding movement is necessary for the leg-strap b2, to enable the foot-plate c to be tipped with freedom. The object of raising the heel, as described, is to raise the body slightly and with it the other skate, in order to allow it to clear the ground in swinging forward.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the particular arrangement of parts-viz., to placing the foot plate over or above the wheel. At the rear side of the frame a m lid-guard g is secured.

I claimm l. In a roadskate, a wheel and its bearingframe, combined with a rockingr and vertically-movable foot-plate supported on said frame, substantially as described.

2. The wheel and its bearing-frame, combined with a rocking frame and a pivoted foot-plate supported by it, substantially as described.

3. In a road-skate, a wheel and its bearingframe, combined with a rocking frame, a ver- Ytically-movable plate supported by it, and a pivoted foot-plate, substantially as described.

4. In a road-skate, a wheel, its bearingframe, a rocking frame supporting the foot of the user, and a brake operated by said frame when tilted in one direction, substantially as described.

5. In a road-skate, a wheel, its bearingframe comprising a yoke, and a rod or bar to which the yoke is attached, a pivoted footplate mounted on said frame, and a vertically-n1ovable leg-strap at the top of said frame by which it may be attached to the leg of the user, substantially as described.

6. In a road-skate, the wheel, its bearing frame, a pivoted foot-plate, and yielding supporting-frame therefor, combined with a vertica1ly-movable leg-strap,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

EDGAR S. DORE.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NoYEs, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

